Carnival Fascination Review - June 29, 2013 Sailing

[Cruise Envy]

Someone mentioned that it was the first week for both of our Head Waiter's assistants. Hmmm... we liked them, they were just SLOW.

 

Tonite's dinner included Bacon Mac N Cheese for my son

 

as well as the dessert I had been waiting for all week, the cappucino pie.

 

Unfortunately it wasn't as good as I remembered. Others ordered the pear and raved about it.

 

 

Due to the library being closed for the first night of Chef's Table, we agreed to meet in the Coconut Grille later to game. I had my eyes on playing Bingo tonite. I love to play, but we were on a budget so I had picked out this game (get one card, get 3 Carnival Cash Craze tickets free). Last year I won $25 on the Cash Craze tickets so I had high hopes.

[Cruise Envy]

This was also the night where our spa prize winner redeemed her $250 certificate towards a couple's massage. They would tell us later that while they felt great afterwards, they didn't realize it would be a deep tissue massage so it wasn't quite what they were expecting.

 

On to the Taj Mahal lounge! As usual, I got there early, so I arrived towards the end of the game show stuff.

 

 

They were pretty funny.

 

As soon as that cleared, I moved to my preferred seating just at the midlde aisle, and then jumped into the line for bingo cards when they announced it. I was surprised by the price increase from last year ($25 this year) but was still determined to play bingo once.

 

 

I open the first cash craze... NADA. I start opening the second cash craze, and 2/3 from the bottom I hit what I call the "check digit". If you have a winning ticket (winners have a row of 3 of a kind) then somewhere else on that ticket, instead of a symbol is the amount. Well, if you had been sitting near me, you would have heard the OMG.... because that check digit said $1000. I don't think I've ever ripped a ticket that fast!!

 

I then proceeded in my state of shock to ask people around me to look at it to be sure I wasn't seeing it wrong. Nope... $1000! I think I screamed! The ladies across the aisle for me were so excited for me. It certainly made it more fun to celebrate with someone! The third card was a dud as well.

 

 

So, I can't tell you a huge number of details about that rest of that game, other than it was for $650 and you had to fill your B and O columns. The assistant Cruise Director said you'd have to yell "I've got BO" to win. I told her I'd happily do that! But I didn't, and it was ok... I waited until they had at least one confirmed winner, and ran to the casino like a shot out of a gun!!

 

I had to supply my SSN when I turned in my card, and they paid me in 10 $100 bills. I hope all of you have a moment like that at some point in your cruising adventures, it was AWESOME. Then I went straight up to the Lido where our group was, holding my bingo card & winnings close, and quietly said I had an announcement, then SCREAMED that I had just won $1000 playing bingo! Can't tell that I was happy now could ya?

 

 

My son was so excited for me he jumped up and hugged me. Then all the guys offered to walk me back to my cabin to put it in the safe. Remember I told you the card I brought to lock the safe with stopped working? Yep, I had $1000 in cash sitting in an unlocked safe. I buried it pretty good but I really prefer the combo lock ones.

 

A couple of last notes on the win. I had actually dreamed about two weeks before that I won $1500 on the cash craze. I told my husband about it ahead of time, and we both laughed ($1500 used to be the top prize, it is now $2000). I received my W2 on the last night, and would you believe it said I won that money betting on Horse Racing? I am still looking for those horses. Last, I was conversing with an employee while waiting to debark. She had been at bingo and a guest had told her that these games were rigged. She said about 2 minutes after I screamed and they announced what I had won he came back up to her and apologized.

 

More to come on night 4...

[deedle7544]

Love Banagram! We get very competitive

[Cruise Envy]

So after I settled down from my big win, I joined the crew playing games in the Lido restaurant.

 

 

 

 

When I read the materials left in the room while I was back putting up the bingo win, I saw that if you booked tonite for a time in the morning on the last sea day, there were massage specials. YIPPEE. I ran upstairs to book a swedish massage at 9:30 AM.

 

All in all, it was a most excellent day.

 

[Cruise Envy]

Love Banagram! We get very competitive

 

Our mentor at the game was so good at it, several ladies insisted he had to wait until everyone had at least four words before he could start. And even with that handicap he still beat them!

 

Jeff got everyone a copy of Bananagrams in our goodie bag. He even gifted one of the crew members with a copy the last day as Marvin had watched us play all week.

[deedle7544]

That's awesome - I love the handicap system

[Cruise Envy]

Day 5 - Last Sea Day

 

How can we be on the last day already? I miss my 7 day cruise!!

 

We decided collectively that we wouldn't get up for breakfast as a family this day. I had grabbed some food from the buffet on the Lido to eat.

 

I then took the bottle of Korbel champagne from our gift set, and headed to the MDR with it. While there I asked the hostess if they could chill it for me and serve it for us tonite. They were happy to oblige. I also asked to speak to the Maitre D, who wasn't there. I explained to the hostess that while we liked our wait staff very much, we were experiencing slow service. I explained that they seemed to be working hard, it was just... slow. She assured me it would be addressed that night.

 

On to the Spa!

 

 

I checked in, and turned in my form that they ask you to fill out. I had put on to "please don't give me a sales pitch, I am here to relax." They parked me in what they call the relaxation room.

 

 

It wasn't too long before a lovely Irish lass named Roison came to collect me. My swedish massage was DELIGHTFUL. I even snuck a few pictures of the room before I left.

 

 

Very well spent money, and quite a treat for me.

 

As part of the morning, I stopped by the Passage to India lounge to see what was up. Nothing exciting to me. We had all agreed since some of our members were doing Chef's Table tonite that we would meet for lunch at the MDR at 1:00 PM.

 

In the meantime, I wandered the ship a bit.

 

 

We had never ventured in Formalities before, but this trip we wanted to try chocolate covered strawberries. SO much cheaper to buy them on the ship than sending them to yourself. We also indulged in a little of the bulk candy. Our strawberry delivery was set for mid afternoon.

 

 

 

[cjknox]

Enjoying your review, especially the pictures!

[cantwait2cruise]

 

I checked in, and turned in my form that they ask you to fill out. I had put on to "please don't give me a sales pitch, I am here to relax." They parked me in what they call the relaxation room.

 

 

It wasn't too long before a lovely Irish lass named Roison came to collect me. My swedish massage was DELIGHTFUL. I even snuck a few pictures of the room before I left.

 

 

Very well spent money, and quite a treat for me.

 

Does it work to tell them you don't want the sales pitch on the form?

 

 

 

 

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

[Cruise Envy]

Does it work to tell them you don't want the sales pitch on the form?

 

It did this time! Not a word about buying anything.

[Express Man]

Do you recall if LSC had a Carnival Towel Hut on the beach..That way we don't have to bring ours from our cabin. Just wanted to check never been to LSC...THX!!!

[charw20]

We were on this cruise as well, so much fun to read other's views!! We had an awesome time. Took our 4 children for their first cruise. :)

[Cruise Envy]

Do you recall if LSC had a Carnival Towel Hut on the beach..That way we don't have to bring ours from our cabin. Just wanted to check never been to LSC...THX!!!

 

Unfortunately, we hit Half Moon Cay rather than LSC, so I can't answer that one. HMC did have towels on the island, but they told us to bring ours as there wouldn't be enough for everyone on the island.

[heathera212]

I never made it back to that area in the daylight, but one of my group members took this shot:

 

There was a third slide to the right that my 12 year old didn't find terribly exciting but your four year old might!

 

Working on Day 3... should be up in a bit!

 

On the right, black addidas shorts and flip flops.... that is me. I was burnt lol.

[javamom]

Random thoughts from Day 1.

We found the sound level in the atrium to be a bit loud in the evenings, with the music from the piano bar and the guitar player in the atrium on the Empress deck. Both sounded fine, it was just... loud. In addition, one of the glass elevators in the atrium was out of service the entire cruise.

 

As it was the previous cruise. I wonder if they plan to fix it.

[Georgiagolfer]

As it was the previous cruise. I wonder if they plan to fix it.

Must have been the same glass elevator that also was not working on our 6/1 sailing.:( Come on CCL, how long does it take to fix an elevator?

Edited July 20, 2013 by Georgiagolfer
spelling

[jrmende63]

Thank You for such a thorough review. Hubby and I plan to go on the Fascination next year. We have sailed her in the past, it was a nice refresher!

[marshhawk]

Thanks for the review. DH and I are both enjoying it-I am reading it to him. We love the Fascination! Weird about the towels since you were in the private cabana.

[Cruise Envy]

Thanks for the review. DH and I are both enjoying it-I am reading it to him. We love the Fascination! Weird about the towels since you were in the private cabana.

 

They had towels for us, but made a general announcement while waiting for the tender that there weren't enough towels on HMC for the entire guest population. Sorry, didn't realize I wasn't clear.

[rmandmm]

Thank you for the review! We just booked Fascination for a pre-Christmas holiday! So excited!!!

[rhondajwl]

Thanks for a great review! I will be boarding Fascination on Saturday.

[Cruise Envy]

Day 5 continued...

 

While in the pool, I saw one of my bucket list items wandering.... Damien with a drink in a whale tail souvenier cup!! My kind husband got out and bought it for me! What a guy!

 

Sooner than later it was time to go meet the crew at the MDR for lunch.

As we changed to go down, here is another shot of my son in is Bahamas souvenier, sitting on that trundle bed.

 

 

It was a nice change to sit with some different folks.

 

 

We skipped dessert and headed back to our cabin to find our strawberries:

 

 

I did some wandering in the afternoon. Here is Camp Carnival on the verandah deck (where the owner's suite is on some Fantasy class ships)

 

 

Some random shots:

 

 

[Cruise Envy]

Our group had decided to game that afternoon outside of the Puttin' on the Ritz lounge, so I headed there via the Serenity deck, where I found some of our group.

 

 

 

 

[cruise_gal21]

 

 

We had never ventured in Formalities before, but this trip we wanted to try chocolate covered strawberries. SO much cheaper to buy them on the ship than sending them to yourself. We also indulged in a little of the bulk candy. Our strawberry delivery was set for mid afternoon.

 

So, when you say it is cheaper to buy them on the ship, you mean cheaper than The Bonvoyage Shop? And I am also wondering how the noise level was out on lido. I have heard some reports of loud noise levels from the DJ on lido and was wondering how it was on your cruise. Thanks for the fantastic review with pics! It's as if I was there with you :D

[Cruise Envy]

So, when you say it is cheaper to buy them on the ship, you mean cheaper than The Bonvoyage Shop? And I am also wondering how the noise level was out on lido. I have heard some reports of loud noise levels from the DJ on lido and was wondering how it was on your cruise. Thanks for the fantastic review with pics! It's as if I was there with you :D

 

If I had ordered them via Bon Voyage in advance, it would have been $12.50 (I think) for 4 strawberries and 4 chocolates. It was $3.80 on the ship for 5 strawberries. MUCH cheaper. The bulk candies were $0.55 per ounce I think?

 

I didn't find it too loud on the Lido; I was much more bothered by the evening volumes in the atrium.

 

Thanks for the kind words! I expect to finish up the review sometime today or tomorrow.